Trampoline - would we be arseholes to do this ?

[dontdance]

DD has some sensory issues and recommendation is that we get a trampoline to help with this.

We have a pretty big garden but it's also pretty heavily planted. Short of taking out a tree or putting the trampoline in the middle of our garden the best place for it is next to our NDN's fence. This is ideal as it's already a little play area (about which she's not complained) and we have a door opening out into this area from the kids playroom.

We get in very well with NDN and I have mentioned getting a trampoline in passing too which she said she thinks we should (we were talking about her lovely noisy car at the time!). But we have both grumbled about another neighbour who put a trampoline at the bottom of their garden next to our fences and whose kids are often out there until 9 o'clock.

We were thinking of doing this to mitigate:

• In ground trampoline so it's less obtrusive.

• no use after 7 pm or before 10 am

• avoid use on Fridays when she works from home

• no screaming rule

Kids are pretty good at following rules like no screaming on things and we have a treehouse and a blow up bouncer which are elsewhere in the garden which we can use for play dates which may be noisier.

I will discuss this with her before we do it but wanted your thoughts on how much you would hate me if I were your neighbour.

We have a neighbour who has a trampoline against the fence which the children spend the day screeching on

As long as you make sure the rules are followed, I wouldn't having an issue.

I think that sounds fine, just chat to her and explain it like you have here.

I think the timing rules are good and considerate. Make sure the darned thing doesnt squeak though. That drives me nuts

I wouldn't chat to her before as this gives the impression she could say no. When it arrives I would tell her the boundaries you are setting to make it smoother.

Haven’t you seen several threads on here about trampolines next to garden fences? It is not popular. In ground one is better but she’ll still bounce high enough to see and be seen over the fence.

I think trampolines beside fences are pretty normal OP, I wouldn't worry.
Your usage rules sound sensible.

My trampoline is at the bottom of the garden but next to the neighbours fence. My rules are no screaming, no children in garden playing before 9am and after 7pm, it works, neighbours happy and children happy!

I agree it is your garden after all - your kids are entitled to play in it and sometimes laugh and screech to their heart's content. I think your rules are very considerate and reasonable.

Wish all parents were so considerate.

You sound like a lovely ndn to have 👏

Wow, you are so considerate. The location sounds perfect. Don't chat to your neighbour about it before. That is too accommodating! An in-ground one is quite a big job. I'd just get a normal one. It's fine.

I think it's un-neighbourly. You can get a small trampoline, single person one used for exercise? There are things that are good for all of us that we can't have due to various circumstances. If you were my neighbour I'd wish you'd try to meet your child's needs in other ways or focus on other needs.

I think you are being very considerate, will a ground trampoline mitigate and privacy issue?

I think the fact you are going to have a chat with her is great and hopefully you can come up with an agreement which means it works well for both of you.

If you follow the rules especially the timing one I don’t see the problem. If privacy is an issue could you put up some trellis in the relevant area so your DD can’t look straight into her garden?

Speaking from experience I would try out a normal trampoline (maybe you can find a second hand one locally?) for a while before committing to an in ground one. We got one for the DDs (DD1 also benefits therapeutically, she has CP) but it hasn’t been used as much as I’d expected so we won’t be getting the in ground one we’d planned.

that all sounds very sensible.

We have recently installed a trampoline and have done our best to make it as little of an issue for neighbours as possible. We're going to plant some bamboo to screen it off further.

It wasn’t the noise that bothered me when my neighbour got a trampoline, it was the loss of privacy. It meant I could never again sunbathe topless in my own garden, as the next door boys could see over my fence from the trampoline.
I’m autistic and hugely value my privacy, so this felt like a major invasion.
If you wouldn’t be happy throwing your back garden open to permanent public scrutiny, don’t do it to your neighbour.

Babdoc why didn't you plant some screening plants, such as bamboo?

I'd make it 6pm instead. And be ready with the WD40 or oil for any squeaky springs. Other than the yelling, it's the squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak...that gets on my nerves sometimes.

Should add that it's not that bad. Of all the annoying things I've heard that neighbours can do, kids enjoying a bounce on a trampoline is pretty mild. For me personally anyway. Our neighbours are great though.
Sounds like you're a good neighbour too so I think it'll be fine.